Not guilty plea in church arson case

EL CAJON  A 45-year-old man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony charges that he set a Spring Valley Catholic church on fire and vandalized it last week.

Eugene William Volk entered his plea in El Cajon Superior Court.

The Oct. 8 blaze caused an estimated $200,000 in damage to the main sanctuary at Santa Sophia Catholic Church on San Juan Street.

The church had two events going in other buildings at the time, but no one was in the sanctuary when the flames were noticed about 8 p.m., authorities said. No one was injured.

Investigators from the sheriff’s bomb-arson team worked the case with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Deputies arrested Volk on Thursday afternoon while he was walking along Campo Road about a quarter-mile from the church. Investigators did not say how they connected Volk to the arson.

Judge Charles Irvin set Volk’s bail in the arson case at $500,000.

Deputy District Attorney Andrew Aguilar also alleged that Volk has a prior felony conviction from a 1991 vehicular manslaughter case. In that incident, Volk was arrested after he rear-ended a pickup on Interstate 805, killing a 14-year-old passenger in the truck.

Aguilar said Volk also has a prior conviction for residential burglary.

Additional bail of $5,000 was set on a misdemeanor battery case against Volk, involving domestic violence. No details of the incident were revealed in open court.